GFAS (Give For a Smile) About Us

Give for a Smile (GFAS) is a 501(c)(3) community-based organization created to provide social assistance to less fortunate and low-income families of all ethnicities, but with a special focus on the Latino communities living in western and northern Orange County. This initiative arose from Adriana Jiménez de Gallardo's experience as a social worker. She realized how cumbersome and difficult the system was when it came to providing assistance without wasting time on bureaucracy. This led to her desire to create her own organization to help our communities. Her husband, Julio, supported her in this endeavor, and together they founded GFAS in 2011. Today, GFAS has served more than 35,000 people in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and Orange County. Adriana Jiménez de Gallardo arrived in 2001 from Guadalajara, Mexico. She had a Master's degree in Finance and three years of Psychology from ITESO, the latter being an unfinished and much-desired dream of becoming an advocate for less fortunate communities. In 2008, she attended Santa Ana College where she earned a certification in human development. Her career path always pointed toward social assistance and helping others. Julio Gallardo arrived from Chile in 1988 with a degree in Business Administration. Once there, he began studying computer technology, earning an MCP and several other diplomas in computer technology. His passion for learning, desire to become an engineer, and setting an example for his children inspired him to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at Cal-Ste Fullerton, graduating in December 2017. Along the way, he worked as an arts and crafts instructor for special needs children in Compton, California. This was an experience that inspired him to help the less fortunate and establish a special connection with them. Before starting at Fullerton University, Julio helped his wife Adriana form GFAS as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Now, after completing his education, he began actively helping GFAS with administration and organization. This is thanks to the award GFAS received from One-OC (Champions for Changemakers) in early 2018. We are actively attending training to provide GFAS with better tools and resources more effectively. Helping more communities. Currently, and since 2015, we are part of a partnership with CCHI, helping communities with Covered Care and Medical applications in OC and LA counties.